Rhule clarifies Raiola praise, says he wasn't calling out other Huskers

Apparently some people took Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule's comment about some Huskers needing to "pick it up" more seriously than it was meant.

During his weekly press conference on Monday, Rhule said, “I told the offense a lot of them have to pick their intensity up to his (quarterback Dylan Raiola's) level, not the other way around," Rhule said. "He’s trying to throw the ball to guys that are supposed to be in certain places and they’re not there. He’s at a whole other level and those other guys better pick it up.”

The head coach went on to highlight Raiola's preparation and said he wants other guys to be like that, but he felt the need to clarify those comments on Thursday.

Related: Rhule praises Huskers QB Dylan Raiola, says others on offense 'better pick it up'

“When I said about Dylan, I was lauding Dylan, I wasn’t saying these other guys … and they other guys are saying to me like, ‘Uh, coach, you kinda called us out.’ No, he’s just rare," Rhule said of Raiola. "He’s rare."

The coach's initial comment never seemed intended to call anyone out — certainly nobody by name — but rather to try to spur continued growth from players. None of the players who spoke to the media the following day seemed bothered by it either.

Raiola said he interpreted the comment as “ just a matter of keep leveling up. … I can do a better job of getting our guys on the same page as I am so I’ll take some of that responsibility on me and I know our guys will accept the challenge and they’ll be playing a lot faster this week.”

Rhule explained Thursday that Nebraska's coaches set high standards, higher than many are used to, and he's trying to push the team to a championship level.

"Everyone in this program does things at a really high level, just a couple people are just difference-makers,” he added, mentioning wide receiver Jahmal Banks as an example of a Husker helping to raise the standard.

Other notes:

• Rhule also said Thursday that LSU transfer Mac Markway , who just showed up at Nebraska at the start of the semester, suffered a torn ACL in practice last week, ending his season before it could really start.
• Senior linebacker Javin Wright, who has been sidelined due to an undisclosed medical issue, is still trending the right way and could return in some capacity around the end of the month, according to Rhule.
• The head coach praised NAIA Player of the Year Jalyn Gramstad, the community college transfer from Iowa who has been running the scout team for the Huskers, with Rhule saying, “He’s unbelievable. A guy I can’t wait to hire someday as a coach.”
• Rhule said Northern Iowa won't just help the Huskers prepare for the Big Ten with their physicality and running game, but also how they play defense. The coach said the Panthers' main coverage scheme is something many Big Ten schools use and called them “a Big Ten team that happens to be playing at the FCS level.” Rhule also praised Northern Iowa for knowing how to win, saying he doesn't usually like to schedule those teams and makes this a "scary game."

The Huskers and Panthers are set for kickoff at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Related: Huskers excited for challenge of stopping Northern Iowa's rushing attack